Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                      253

CHAPTER 196

(Senate Bill 20)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 19 (c),
(f) and (i) of Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1956 Supplement), title "Corporations—Municipal", sub-title
"Home Rule", sub-heading "Annexation", providing that the voters
in certain procedures for annexation by municipalities shall be
registered to vote in county elections within the precinct or pre-
cincts in which the territory to be annexed is located.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 19 (c), (f) and (i) of Article 23A of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1956 Supplement), title "Corporations—Munici-
pal", sub-title "Home Rule", sub-heading "Annexation", be and they
are hereby repealed and re-enacted with amendments, to read as
follows:

19.

(c) Initiation by Petition.—The proposal for change also may be
initiated by a written petition signed by not less than twenty-five per
centum (25%) of the persons who reside in the area to be annexed
and who are registered as voters in county elections in the precinct
or precincts in which the territory to be annexed is located, and by the
owners of not less than twenty-five per centum (25%) of the
assessed valuation of the real property located in the area to be an-
nexed. Upon the presentation of a petition to the legislative body of
the municipal corporation, the presiding officer thereof shall cause to
be made a verification of the signatures thereon and shall ascertain
that the persons signing the petition represent at least twenty-five
per centum (25%) of the persons who reside in the area to be an-
nexed and who are registered as voters in county elections in the
precinct or precincts in which the territory to be annexed is located,
and the owners of twenty-five per centum (25%) of the assessed
valuation of the real property located in the area to be annexed.
Upon verifying that the requirements of this subsection have been
complied with, the presiding officer of the legislative body shall
promptly cause to be introduced therein a resolution proposing the
change of boundaries as requested by the petition. The resolution in
form and content shall conform to the requirements of this section.

(f) Petition for referendum by residents of area to be annexed.—
At any time within the forty-five (45) day period following the final
enactment of the resolution, a number of persons equal to not less
than twenty per centum (20%) of the persons who reside in the area
to be annexed and who are registered as voters in county elections
in the precinct or precincts in which the territory to be annexed is
located pay, in writing, petition the chief executive and administra-
tive officer of the municipal corporation for a referendum on the
resolution. Upon the presentation of a petition to the officer, he shall
cause to be made a verification of the signatures thereon and shall

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.